Shuck it, Don't Chuck It

Oysters extract lime from the water so they can grow their shell. This is why the Society recycles oyster shell from local restaurants. The shell is returned to the water where it provides a substrate for new oysters. The Shuck It Don't Chuck It Oyster Shell Recycling Program is a win-win for oyster lovers, businesses and the bay's waters.

One oyster can clean up to 50 gallons of water per day. Oyster shell from restaurants ordinarily end up in landfills.  Our program returns them to New Jersey's bays where they create a foundation for growing new oysters.
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​Oyster reefs also provide homes for other marine life and protect sensitive shorelines.  Historically, they populated our coastal waters, but pollution, disease and overharvesting have destroyed these essential creatures of the marine ecosystem. Our program returns the shell to the bays for cleaner water, a healthier environment and more oysters on our plates.

The Oyster shell recycling program is supported by The Lusty Lobster in Highlands, NJ and through a grant from the Marta Heflin Foundation.